Panel for X-ray photography and method of manufacture

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a large-sized X-ray photography panel. This panel comprises several modules placed end to end. Each module comprises a network of photosensitive detectors with the same number of columns as the panels but with a smaller number of rows. Each module has its own addressing and reading means. The addressing means are located on an edge of the insulating substrate that bears the detectors. The reading means are located on the other side of the substrate from the detectors. A screen, which is opaque to the radiation to be detected, is interposed between the substrate and these means. These means are liked to the column connections coming from the opposite side of the substrate by connections along one of the side surfaces of the substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An x-ray photography panel comprising photosensitive detectors, borne by an insulating substrate, arranged in rows and columns, linked to one another by row connections and column connections, and receiving radiation to be detected by means of a scintillator, with means linked to the row connections being used for the successive addressing of each row of photosensitive detectors and means connected to the column connections providing for the reading of the row of photosensitive detectors addressed, said panel comprising several modules, placed end to end, each module comprising a network of photosensitive detectors with the same number of columns as the panel but with a smaller number of rows, each module having its own addressing and reading means, the addressing means of each module located on an edge of the insulating substrate on the detectors side, and being protected from the radiation to be detected by a screen, the reading means being located on the other side of the insulating substrate from the photosensitive detectors, with a screen which is opaque to the radiation to be detected being interposed between the insulating substrate and the reading means, the reading means linked to the column connections coming from the side opposite to the insulating substrate by connections following one of the side surfaces of the insulating substrate. 
     
     
       2. A panel according to claim 1, wherein each module is made on a substrate, one of the surfaces of which comprises the superimposition of column connections, photosensitive detectors, row connectors, the scintillator and the addressing means being arranged on an edge of the substrate and the other side of the substrate comprising the superimposition of a screen for protection from the radiation to be detected and the reading means. 
     
     
       3. A panel according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is transparent to visible radiation and wherein a luminous panel, which transmits visible radiation upon a command, lines that surface of the substrate which carries a screen opaque to the radiation to be detected and the reading means. 
     
     
       4. A panel according to claim 3, wherein the luminous panel which transmits a visible radiation upon a command, is a panel of light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
       5. An x-ray photography panel comprising photosensitive detectors supported by an insulating substrate, said photosensitive detectors arranged in rows and columns linked to one another by row connections and column connections said panel receiving radiation to be detected by means of a scintillator, with addressing means linked to the row connections for successive addressing of each row of photosensitive detectors and means connected to the column connections providing for the reading of an addressed row of photosensitive detectors, said panel comprising several modules placed end to end, each module comprising a network of photosensitive detectors with the same number of columns as the panel but with a smaller number of rows, said addressing means comprising a module addressing means for each module and said reading means comprising a module reading means for each module, the module addressing means of each module located on an edge of the insulating substrate on the detector side, said module addressing means protected from the radiation to be detected by a screen, the module reading means being located on the other side of the insulating substrate from the photosensitive detectors, with a screen which is opaque to the radiation to be detected being interposed between the insulating substrate and the module reading means, the module reading means linked to the column connections coming from the side opposite to the insulating substrate by connections following one of the side surfaces of the insulating substrate, wherein said column connections comprise connections deposited on one surface of the insulating substrate on the detector side, and further comprise connections deposited on a flexible, insulating support which is bonded to a side surface of the insulating substrate, said further connections being welded to said reading means.   
     
     
       6. A panel according to claim 5 wherein each module is supported on an insulating substrate, one of the surfaces of which comprises the superimposition of column connections, photosensitive detectors, row connections, the scintillator and the module addressing means being arranged on an edge of the substrate and the other side of the substrate comprising the superimposition of a screen for protection from the radiation to be detected and said module reading means. 
     
     
       7. A panel according to claim 5 wherein the insulating substrate is transparent to visible radiation an wherein a luminous panel, which transmits visible radiation upon command, lines that surface of the insulating substrate which carries a screen opaque to the radiation to be detected and the module reading means. 
     
     
       8. A panel according to claim 7 wherein the luminous panel which transmits a visible radiation upon a command is a panel of light emitting diodes. 
     
     
       9. A method for manufacturing a panel for x-ray photography, which panel comprises photosensitive detectors supported by an insulating substrate and arranged in rows and columns, said photosensitive detectors linked to one another by row connections and column connections, and receiving radiation to be detected by means of a scintillator, with addressing means linked to the row connections for addressing of each row of photosensitive detectors and reading means connected to the column connections provided for reading a row of addressed photosensitive detectors, the panel comprising several modules placed end to end, each module comprising a network of photosensitive detectors with the same number of columns as the panel but with a smaller number of rows, said addressing means comprising a module addressing means for each module, said reading means comprising a module reading means for each module, wherein said method for implementing said column connections and connections to said module reading means comprises the steps of: (1) bonding, a flexible insulating support bearing conductors, to one of the side surfaces of the insulating substrate,   (2) lapping said flexible insulating support so that ends of connections borne by the support are located in a plane common with that side of said insulating substrate supporting said photosensitive detectors,   (3) depositing column connections on the detector side of said insulating substrate so that at an end of the substrate, deposited connections overlap the conductors borne by said flexible insulating support, and   (4) welding those conductors borne by said flexible insulating support to the module reading means.   
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said lapping step is implemented by polishing. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 9 wherein during said step (3) said column connections are deposited by evaporation in a vacuum followed by depositing a photosensitive resin and followed by a step of photo etching said photosensitive resin. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said photosensitive resin is deposited by dipping said insulating substrate and then withdrawing said insulating substrate. 
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 12 wherein after said step (1), side surfaces of the insulating substrate are extended a small distance and following said step (3) the substrate is thereafter lapped so as to appreciably eliminate that part by which said substrate had been extended.